Chapter 1. A normal day
New York, United States
Jackson
I took a long sip of my coffee and felt the warmth as it slid down my throat; it was the best moment of the day. I finished reading the end-of-month sales analysis. A waitress approached and placed a slice of cake on the table. I frowned and looked up at her.
"I didn't order this." She smiled apologetically, her cheeks turning a pale pink.
"It's on the house." I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
"Oh, thanks." I managed a half-smile.
"Have a nice day." And without waiting for a response, she disappeared.
"Well..." I then turned my attention back to my tablet.
"Mr. Johnson..." I heard beside me and sighed, knowing it was time to go.
"So soon?" I sounded a bit irritated.
"You have a meeting at nine, we have ten minutes to get to the building."
"Alright, alright," I packed my tablet, finished the rest of my coffee, and got up to grab my coat since it was freezing cold. I weaved through the tables to reach the exit. As I stepped outside, I stopped when I saw a red-haired woman in a blood-red coat. She smiled at me.
"No way," I said to myself.
"Jackson, this time you won't escape, let's have breakfast together." I walked up to her since she was blocking the armored SUV's door.
"I think we'll leave it for another day, I have a meeting at nine and only nine minutes to get there."
She tried to pout.
"Come on, slow down a bit and have breakfast with me."
"I really can't, Georgina." I politely sidestepped, causing her to move aside automatically.
"You owe me breakfast then..." she said suddenly, as I was closing the car door. I turned to her.
"I'll call you..." Then I closed the door. She waited for the tinted window to roll down, but she'd be waiting a while. The car started moving, and finally, I could sigh.
"I hate blind dates," I muttered. My bodyguard smiled; I saw him in the rearview mirror. "I don't understand the rush to get me into a relationship."
"Your mother wants to see you married with a family in the future."
"I'm only thirty; I still have time before settling down, before living..." I turned to look out the window. What are you going to live? You're on autopilot, Jackson. Just on autopilot. Your mind is only on business.
"But with the lady you just saw, I thought there was some chemistry..." commented my security man, Richard.
"Remember, all the women who approach my mother or my family do so because they want to get close to me. And if they get close to me, they get fame, connections, and, most importantly, to tie me down in holy matrimony, and of course, my mother is happy." I snorted. "I'm like a lottery ticket..." Richard nodded with a smile, not taking his eyes off the traffic.
After the nine o'clock meeting, I focused on the new properties I was going to acquire. I was enchanted by a property in the Hamptons; the land was extensive, with a private beach, and the area had only a few neighboring houses. The farther from prying eyes, the better.
There was a knock on the door, and I announced they could come in. I heard the door open, and when I looked up, I smiled at the sight of my only brother: Jacob.
"Good morning, bro! Am I interrupting?" I quickly shook my head.
"Good morning, come in, come in. What are you up to now?" Jacob laughed.
"Can't I just come to see my little brother?" I rolled my eyes for a moment.
"Only for three seconds. Don't boast, idiot." Jacob was my twin; he sat in the chair on the other side of my desk.
"Alright, alright, I have six more clients for the eco-friendly housing project. Mentioning I'm your brother has started attracting more clients..." I shook my head silently.
"Don't say that, you also carry the Johnson name."
"But they ask: 'Johnson?' 'Are you Jackson Johnson's brother?' 'The owner of the real estate conglomerate?' Of course, they doubt it when they don't see the resemblance between us, you being brunette and me blonde." I pressed my lips together; he laughed at my irritation. "By the way, our mother didn't make a good choice with your name."
"Here we go again..." I muttered through clenched teeth.
"Seriously, 'Jack Johnson' would have been fine, but Jackson Johnson..." He smiled sarcastically; he loved to tease me about how strange my name sounded with our last name. "On the other hand, Jacob Johnson sounds like..."
"A porn star, yes, yes, yes, come on, tell me why you're here, I have..." I glanced at the clock. "I have another meeting in fifteen minutes, then I'm heading to the Hamptons to check out some properties."
"Alright, I'll get to the point." He settled into the chair and smiled. "Come with me on a blind date." I raised an eyebrow.
"Tell our mother I don't need another blind date, for God's sake! What's wrong with her these weeks? Talking to her is becoming a torture with all these blind dates." Jacob smiled. "Why doesn't she focus on you instead? You need a woman in your life, to see if the family architect settles down, gives her grandchildren and a daughter-in-law."
"Nah! I'm a free spirit, a man who prefers to enjoy and love women in my bed and then the next day, 'Nice to have met you, I'll call you.'"
"Bastard. I just ask the universe to be there to see you lose your mind over a woman who treats you the same so you know what it feels like."
"That will never happen, Jack, never."
"Never say never, JJ."